Railroad-signal.



E. FOSTER.

RAILROAD SIGNAL.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 16. 1916.

Patented June 18, 191s,

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

E. FOSTER.

RAILQOAD SIGNAL. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 16. l9l6.

Patented June 18,1918.

gu -van for r w 6 mm EDGAR FOSTER, OF VICKSBURG, MISSISSIPPI.

RAILROAD-SIGN AL.

Application filed September 16, 1916.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EDGAR FOSTER, a citizen'of the United States, residing at Vicksburg, in the county of Warren andState of Mississippi, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Railroad-Signals, of which the following is a specification,reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to railroad signals and has for its object theproduction of a simple and efi'icient means for automatically closing anelectric signal circuit when a train or car passes over a given point ofthe railroad track.

Another ob ect of this invention is the production of a simple andefiicient circuit closing means for actuating the desired signal.

With these and other objects in view, this invention consists of certainnovel constructions, combinations and arrangements of parts as will behereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the signal apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a central section taken on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 3-3 of- Fi 1.

Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

.Fig. 6 is a section taken on line 66 of Fi 1.

, ig. 7 is a section taken on line 77 of Fi 3.

Fig. 8 is a detail perspective of the con tact blocks carried by thesignal casing.

Fig. 9 is a section taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 3.

By referring to the drawings, it will be seen that 1 designates thelongitudinal rails of the railroad track which is supported upon theusual ties 2. A plurality of spring supporting blocks 4 are carried bythe ties and support springs 5 engaging at their outer ends a flangeengaging plate 6. The lower ends of the spring 5 are seated within thesockets 7 formed in the plates 4. The flange engaging plate 6 isprovided with a concave portion 8 in which the flange of the wheeltraveling over the rails 1 is adapted to fit. The plate is prm'ided withan out Specification of Letters latent.

Patented June 18, 1918.

Serial No. 120,492.

\vardly curvedouter edge 9 as is illustrated clearly in Fig. 5 of thedrawings, the plate 6 being adapted to fit snugly against the side ofthe tread of the rail 1.

A roller supporting bracket 10 is carried by one of the ties 2 and alsoa supporting roller 11, which roller 11 constitutes a rest for the rearend of the channel plate 6 as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 6 of thedrawings. A supporting link or arm 12 is secured between the cars 13 ofthe channel plate 6 and this arm 12 is carried by an operating shaft 14.The shaft 14 passes through the supporting brackets 15 as illustrated inFig. 3 and a contact closing arm 16 is carried by the outer end of thisshaft14. The shaft 14 is formed of a plurality of sections, one

section being provided with an enlarged head 17 in which one end of theopposite section is adapted to fit as shown clearly in Fig. 9. A coilspring 18 is mounted upon one of the sections of the shaft 14 and isadapted to normally hold the contact arms 16 in an inoperative position.One end of the spring 18 engages the cam 15 as shown at 26 in Fig. 3,while the opposite end of the spring extends into the head 17, as shownat 27 in Figs. 1 and 3.

A plurality of contact blocks 19 are carried within the signal casing20, which casing is formed of wood or similar-nonconductive material,and this signal casing 20 supports a-light 21 and an audible signal suchas a bell 22. A battery 23 is positioned or supported within the casing20 and is electrically connected to the respective contact points 24 and25, light 21 and bell 22 so as to energize the signals when the contactarm 16 is thrown into engagement with the contact blocks or points 24and 25. It, of course, should be understood that the signal, light andbell can be placed in any desired position with respect to the switchthrowing plate 6, to suit the desire of the operator. The signal, lightand hell are, of course, intended to be placed at a point where thesignal is to be given, such as a railroad crossing or the like.

What is claimed is:

1. In a signal operating mechanism of the character described, thecombination of a shaft, means for normally retaining said shaft in a setposition, an arm keyed to said shaft, a roller, a plate pivotallyconnected to said arm and resting upon said roller, whereby when saidplate is dep it may ride over said roller for swinging said arm andturning said shaft. v p r 2. In a signal operating mechanism of thecharacter described, the combination of a shaft, means for normallyretaining said shat}; in'a set position, an arm keyed to said shaft, aroller, a plate pivotally connected to said arm and resting upon saidroller, whereby when said plate is depressed it may ride over saidroller for swinging said arm and turning said shaft, and springsengaging saidplate 'for yieldably retaining the same in a set position;p

In a signal'operating mechanism of the character described,the'comhination of a shaft; means" for normally retaining said shaft setposition, aiia'rinkeyed to said shaft, a' roller, aplate pivotallyconnected f to said' ajrm and resting upon said roller,

whereby when said plate is depressed it may ride ever said roller forswinging said arm andtiirning said shaft, plates positioned beneath saidfirst-mentioned plate and hating sockets formed thereiinsprings carriedWithin saidsock'ets, 'wherebysaid springs will be held againstdisplacement, said springs e'n gaging said firstmentioned fplate,thereby iel dabl i Y' retainin said first-mentioned l A b plate" inaiset position.

In a' signal operating mechanism of the character described, thecombination of, a shaft, inea'r'ls for normally retaining saidshaftin'aset position, an armk'e ed to said shaft rollerifa plate'pivotally' connected to saidfarm andresting upon said roller, wherebywhen 'said plate is depressed it may ride. ov erisai'd' rollerforswinging said arm ajnd, turning said. shaft, plates posi- I 5. In asignal operating mechanism of the character described, the combinationoi a roller, a plate resting upon said roller, said plate being adaptedto be connected to a signal, said plate being adapted to be depressed soas to ride over said roller and operate the signal springs engaging saidplate for yieldably holding the same in a set position, said platehaving alongitudinally extending concated portion, whereby as the plateis depressed theflange of a Wheel fitting in said concaved portion willhold said plate aga nst s1de displacement,

plates positioned "beneath said first-mentioned plate and having socketsformed therein, springs carried by said, sockets,

n'herebysaid springs will be heldf'against displacement, said springsengaging said first-mentioned plate, thereby yieldably retainin saidfirst-mentioned" late in a' set position.

6. In a signal operatingmechanisrri ofthe character described,- thecombination of a roller, a plate resting upon said roller, said platebeingadapte'd to :be connected to a signal, said platebeing adapted tobe depressed "so as to ride over said roller and operate the signal,sprlngs engaging said plate for yieldab'ly holding the same'in asetposition, said plate having a longitudinallir eXtending conc'avedportionfii hereby asthe plate is' depressedthe flange o f a Wheelfittingin said concaved portion will hold said i plate against sidedisplacement, plates. positioned beneath said first-mentioned plate andhaving sockets formedtherein, springs carried by said sockets, wherebysaid springs will be held against displacelnent said springs engagingsaid first-mentioned plate,

thereby yieldably retaining said first-mentioned'plate in' a setposition, and said firstmentioned plate having a longitudinally'extending conca ned portion adapted to receive the flange of a wheel,whereby when said first-mentioned plate isdepressed it Will be heldagainst side displacement.

. i A i 4' In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

EDGAR FOSTER.

Copies ofthispatehttfiiaBT b e ottaiiied fbr fixie cents each, joyaddressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, 1). G.

